Relax, the train is coming � Mabeo
Innocent Selatlhwa | Thursday March 3, 2016 17:14
The passenger train is expected back on the rail tracks end of March.
Mabeo told Mmegi, “I am aware of the probe at Botswana Railways (BR) which I learnt of through media reports.
The DCEC are within their rights to investigate if they are suspicious or have any report of corruption.”
The minister said he visited Cape Town early last month where coaches are being manufactured and stated that he was delighted with the work he saw being put in. He also said BR and the contractor assured him that everything was going well and that they would be on time.
“I also get a weekly update from BR, and so far everything is on track, even after the reports about the DCEC probe. We are not halting our plans.
Preparations for the launch are on-going,” he said.
The DCEC is said to have raided BR headquarters in Mahalapye on Monday and confiscated cellphones and electronic gadgets belonging to the Chief Executive Officer and executive staff, subsequently seizing their bank accounts over allegations of corruption.
It is reported that there are suspicions that some of the 37 coaches BR purchased could have been repainted and only a few manufactured.
A total of P280 million was injected into the project, which was initially to see the train back last December.
Furthermore, the DCEC has not shed any light on the progress of their investigations, as the agency’s spokesperson, Phakamile Kraai’s mobile phone was off air.
Also, the public relations officer of BR had not responded to Mmegi enquiries at the time of going to press.